Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Disappointment seeps through every element of director Shekhar Kapur’s ineffectual sequel to his superior 1998 precursor "Elizabeth," which introduced the world to the exceptional acting abilities of Cate Blanchett. In spite of her familiarity and ease as the woman who reinvented 16^th century England, Blanchett’s best efforts are routed by an overly compartmentalized script that seeks to add a romantic groundwork to the character. Screenwriter Michael Hirst ("Elizabeth") teams up with William Nicholson ("Gladiator’) to detail Elizabeth’s jealous relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), while giving scope to her ruling abilities in the context of waging war with Spain.

Rated PG-13, 114 mins. (C) (Two Stars)